SmartStop Self Storage to Sponsor MMA Fighter Shawn “The Great” Bunch

SmartStop Self Storage, a U.S. chain of storage units, recently announced the sponsorship of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Shawn “The Great” Bunch.

The three-year sponsorship will provide Bunch with financial support while he completes his training with the goal of becoming one of the top MMA athletes in the country.

Bunch is currently competing in Bellator’s Bantamweight Division. In 2012 at Bellator 82, he made his professional and promotional debut against Chad Coon, which he won via unanimous decision. At Bellator 97, he defeated Russell Wilson via split decision. In 2012, he placed third in the World Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament. Bunch had his first defeat via TKO against Steve Garcia in October 2013.

“Our sponsorship program targets up-and-coming, talented and driven athletes with the goal of helping them reach their fullest potential,” said H. Michael Schwartz, chairman and CEO of Strategic Storage Trust, Inc., a publicly registered REIT targeting the self-storage market under the SmartStop Self Storage brand name. “Shawn is not a typical MMA fighter, as he comes from a very high level of wrestling where he achieved greatness in the NCAA circuit and has represented the United States in the International Freestyle Wrestling Tournaments.”

Bunch trains at The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Calif. The AKA gym was recently rated one of the top five training centers in the world. AKA provides world class instruction in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts and wrestling.

This is not the first time SmartStop has sponsored an MMA athlete. Back in 2012, SmartStop sponsored Joe “The Hybrid” Duarte for more than two years.